Compare towns
Concord vs Andover vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Concord | Andover | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223 |
36,652Highest |
14,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
| Concord and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,622±$327 49% above MA |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.